CLERKSHIP INFORMATION ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021 - SUNY ...

CLERKSHIP INFORMATION ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021

MEDICINE CLERKSHIP
Course Director: Isabel M. McFarlane, M.D.
Medical Student Coordinator: Sunday McCray (718 270-2390)

Clerkship Description:
Two (4-week) rotations within the context of the Medicine/Primary Care 12-week block. Students
will be introduced to clinical medicine and will learn to develop assessments and plans for the newly
admitted patients. They will be involved in the diagnostic work-up, laboratory and imaging
interpretation, sub-specialty consultation and therapeutic management, with an appreciation of their
role as members of the health care team.

Expectations:
Six (6) day a week commitment. Late call every 4th – 5th night (no overnights). Four
patient case write-ups for the preceptor. The students will be evaluated on their clinical work by the
medical attending, senior resident and the preceptor who supervised the student’s clinical performance
during the clerkship.
At the end of the 8-week experience, the student will be expected to conduct a competent history and
physical examination with a faculty member as observer. The Medicine subject NBME test is administered
at the conclusion of the Clerkship.

Hospital Sites:

In-House:        Four weeks at either NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County or
                                     SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Affiliate Sites: Four weeks at one of the sites listed below:
Brooklyn Veterans Administration Medical Center
Northwell Health/Long Island Jewish Hospital
Northwell Health/Lenox Hill Hospital
Maimonides Medical Center

A site switch request will be considered only if a one-to-one swap is made with one of your classmates in the same
rotation as you. This request must be submitted to the department at least four weeks prior to the start of the clerkship.

CLERKSHIP INFORMATION ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021

NEUROLOGY CLERKSHIP
Course Co-Director: Brian Anziska, M.D.       beeper (917) 760-0879
Course Co-Director: Lisa Merlin, M.D.         office phone (718) 270-3957
Course Assistant Director: Nuri Jacoby, M.D. office phone (718) 270-5740
Medical Student Coordinator:     Nathalie Deare office phone (718) 270-2945;                     Room#: UHB A6-345

Clerkship Description: The clerkship provides experience in the physical examination, assessment,
work-up and management of patients with acute and chronic neurological conditions. Students are
assigned inpatients for whom they assume responsibility under the supervision of resident and
attending neurologists. Students participate in weekly clinical conferences and outpatient clinics, and
are introduced to the use of neurological tests, such as EEG, EMG, CT scans, MRI scanning, cerebral
MR angiography, and lumbar puncture.

Expectations: Students are expected to develop skills necessary for the assessment of adult and
pediatric patients with neurological problems.

Hospital Sites:
Kings County Hospital
Maimonides Medical Center
Northwell Health@Staten Island University Hospital
University Hospital of Brooklyn

Notes: All students will spend Fridays exclusively at Downstate (didactic sessions and Grand Rounds).

Grading is based on the following criteria, encompassing the six competencies (especially MK, CS, and
             professionalism):
   1. Clinical Performance (attendance, participation, professionalism and development of clinical
      competence as demonstrated on wards, in clinics, during preceptor sessions, and on call)
   2. Two complete case write-ups
   3. The NBME Subject Examination in Clinical Neurology score (“shelf exam”)
   4. Oral exam score, based on the student’s knowledge of patients seen during the rotation and
      knowledge of fundamental material covered in didactic sessions.
   5. OSCE performance.
   6. Timely completion of the case log requirements.
   7. Timely submission of the neuro exam credentialing card.

A site switch request will be considered only if a one-to-one swap is made with one of your classmates in the same
rotation as you. This request must be submitted to the department at least four weeks prior to the start of the clerkship.

CLERKSHIP INFORMATION ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021

PEDIATRICS CLERKSHIP
Course Director: Laura Bruno, M.D., University Hospital 4th floor, Rm. B4-461 (718) 270-4560
Medical Student Coordinator: Joyce Smith, (718-270-1904)

Clerkship Description: The pediatric clerkship is designed to provide students with the basic
knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate and manage patients from birth through adolescence.
The clerkship objectives, course requirements and expectations of students are presented and
discussed at orientation on the first day of the clerkship. Students will spend approximately 2-3
weeks in an in-patient setting and 2-3 weeks in a combined nursery/ambulatory setting.
Considerable effort has been made to develop a program which enables students to become fully
engaged in the clinical work and involved in the care of patients. Students will be expected to
share the responsibility for covering the topics designated as the Core Curriculum in Pediatrics in
weekly meetings with their preceptors, and with attendings and residents in all of the clinical
sites to which they are assigned. Each patient encounter should be considered an opportunity to
learn about normal growth and development as well about how disease presents at each age.
Attendance at preceptor meetings, and at the weekly student lectures is required.

The students must perform satisfactorily throughout the clerkship and fulfill all of the objectives
in knowledge, skills, and attitudes defined for the course. The final grade in Pediatrics will be
based on the evaluations submitted by preceptors, attendings, and residents who supervised the
students' clinical performance during the clerkship, on the quality of three written case reports
submitted by students, and on the results of students' performance on the National Board shelf
examination in Pediatrics taken at the conclusion of the clerkship.

Hospital Sites:
Kings County Hospital/UH-Downstate
Maimonides Medical Center

Notes: Shelf exam, clinical evaluation and written case reports. Approximately 6 calls over 6 weeks
(varies by site).

A site switch request will be considered only if a one-to-one swap is made with one of your classmates in the same
rotation as you. This request must be submitted to the department at least four weeks prior to the start of the clerkship.

CLERKSHIP INFORMATION ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021

WOMEN'S HEALTH
Course Director: Kayana Ward, M.D. (718 270-2076)
Medical Student Coordinator: Takiya Swaby (718 270-2076)

Clerkship Description: The Women’s Health Clerkship is a 6-week rotation that highlights the health care for
women of all age groups. Students rotate through three clinical divisions, including outpatient clinics (2 weeks),
Labor/Delivery (2 weeks), and Gynecology/Gynecology-Oncology (2 weeks). Required didactics are Mondays’
for all students at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Clerkship objectives and requirements of students are
presented during orientation. Each student is required to present a clinical case observed during that rotation.
Attendance at all formally scheduled academic activities is required. Daily schedules include rounds,
evaluation of outpatients, preparing patients for surgery, assisting in surgeries and deliveries,
postoperative/postpartum care.

Hospital Sites:

The Brooklyn Hospital
Kings County Hospital
Maimonides Medical Center
University Hospital-Downstate

Notes: Shelf exam, oral exam and weekly lectures at Downstate for everyone in rotation (regardless
of assigned site). Clinical evaluations. Night float and one weekend call.

A site switch request will be considered only if a one-to-one swap is made with one of your classmates in the same
rotation as you. This request must be submitted to the department at least four weeks prior to the start of the clerkship.

CLERKSHIP INFORMATION ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021
SURGERY
Course Director:                Robert DiRaimo, M.D. (718 270-1973)
Medical Student Coordinator:    Audra Koenig (Interim), Jillian Telford (718 270-2306/2137)

Clerkship Description: A brief orientation period on the first day is followed by 8 weeks of clinical clerkship. A
more detailed written handout of course requirements and expectations will be distributed on the first day of the
clerkship. The following is an overview of the clerkship.
         Four of these 8 weeks are spent on general surgery service at the University Hospital/Kings County
Hospital Center, the Brooklyn Veterans Administration Medical Center, Lenox Hill and Maimonides Medical
Center. The other four weeks are spent in a surgical subspecialty service. The student must follow patients
throughout their illnesses and take an active part in the therapy, including the performance of minor technical
procedures, assisting at operations and following results. Rounds and teaching conferences are held throughout the
week. These are conducted at the bedside, and are directed at exposing the student to common clinical problems.
         The student is expected to attend rounds in the service to which he or she is assigned. A preceptor in the
ward guides each student through the clerkship. At the end of the clerkship, the student is given a written
examination. The solving of clinical problems is stressed throughout all phases of the clerkship
         By the end of the clerkship the student will have:
         1. acquired the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to care for the surgical patient.
         2. gained an understanding of the process of surgical decision making as it relates to all aspects of the
         patient’s illness.
         3. gained an understanding of the pre-, peri- and post-operative care of the patient.
These goals will be accomplished through didactic lectures, small group sessions, seminars, and ward participation.
Emphasis will be placed on the clinical, rather than the technical aspect of surgery. Your final grade in surgery is
based on a final written exam (NBME shelf exam); completing WISE-MD modules assigned which will be given
during the beginning of the clerkship; and evaluation by site preceptors. Students must also complete a written Case
Report, History and Physical (H&P) written Exam and complete the online Institute for Healthcare Improvement
(IHI) Patient Safety Courses.
General Surgery:       (Four weeks)
BrooklynVA___________________________________________________________________________
Kings County Hospital General__________________________________________________________
UHB/Downstate – General ______________________________________________________________
Lenox Hill Hospital ___________________________________________________________________
Maimonides Medical Center_____________________________________________________________

Subspecialty Sites: (Four weeks at one of the sites listed below)
UHB/Downstate – Cardiothoracic ________________________________________________________
UHB/Downstate- Transplant_____________________________________________________________
UHB/Downstate- Orthopedics___________________________________________________________
Kings County Hospital –Trauma_________________________________________________________
Kings County Hospital – CT/Vascular ____________________________________________________
UHB/Downstate - Otolaryngology (ENT)__________________________________________________
UHB/Downstate - Urology_______________________________________________________________
UHB/Downstate – Pediatrics ____________________________________________________________
Maimonides Medical Center – Orthopedics_______________________________________________
Maimonides Medical Center – Thoracic__________________________________________________
Maimonides Medical Center – Vascular __________________________________________________
Maimonides Medical Center – Neurosurgery_____________________________________________
Maimonides Medical Center – Cardiothoracic_____________________________________________

Notes: Shelf exam. Clinical evaluations. Late calls once a week plus two weekends.
A site switch request will be considered only if a one-to-one swap is made with one of your classmates in the same
rotation as you. This request must be submitted to the department four weeks prior to the start of the clerkship.

CLERKSHIP INFORMATION ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021

PSYCHIATRY
Course Director: Jeffrey Feola, MD (718-270-2137), psychiatry.clerkship@downstate.edu
Medical Student Coordinator: Audra Koenig (718-270-2137), psychiatry.clerkship@downstate.edu

Clerkship Description: Students work in a variety of settings. Read individual site descriptions below.
Sites with just one setting offer the opportunity to become very familiar with that treatment setting and
patient population, while sites that offer many settings provide a diversity of experiences. Students
on an inpatient unit evaluate and treat psychiatrically hospitalized patients as part of the treatment
team. Students on a consultation- liaison ("C/L") service assess and treat hospitalized medical and
surgical patients for psychiatric illness. Most students will also work a half day a week in an
outpatient Psychiatric clinic. Other site-specific clinical experiences may be available (e.g. daytime
Emergency Room coverage, and court-based proceedings.) Our program also includes three
hours/week of didactics. Attendance at these lectures is required. Clerkship expectations encompass
Patient Care, Patient-Based Learning, Communications Skills, Systems-Based Practice, and
Professionalism. Clinically, students are expected to follow 4-6 patients, as well as participate in the
outpatient care of patients with mental illness. Students are assigned three "on-call" sessions at KCH
Psychiatric Emergency Service or Consult Service. All clerkship materials are available online.
Evaluations are based on clinical performance (attendance, participation, professionalism and
development of clinical competence), NBME Subject Examination (shelf exam) in Psychiatry, and
written vignette-based examination of clinical skills.

Hospital Sites:
Kings County Hospital (all Adult In-Patient)
UH/Downstate & Kings County Hospital (all Consult/Liaison)
Kingsboro Psychiatric Center (all Adult In-Patient, with a more chronic patient population)
Maimonides Medical Center (3 weeks inpatient, 1 week C/L, 1 week E.D, I week Child Psych)
Northwell Health@Lenox Hill Hospital (3 weeks Adult Inpatient, 3 weeks C/L)
Coney Island Hospital (5 weeks Adult In-Patient, 1 week Consult/Liaison and Emergency Room)

A site switch request will be considered only if a one-to-one swap is made with one of your classmates in the same
rotation as you. This request must be submitted to the department at least four weeks prior to the start of the clerkship.

CLERKSHIP INFORMATION ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021
PC 1- PRIMARY CARE/FAMILY MEDICINE
Course Director:      Paul Harris, M.D.
Senior Administrative Coordinator: Cheryl Ullah (718 270-2257)

Clerkship Description:
Students spend four consecutive weeks in an ambulatory care setting with direct patient care responsibility. At
least 40 percent of time is spent in continuity of care, 10-20 percent in acute care, and the remainder in subspecialty
and gynecology ambulatory clinics. Psycho-social issues are addressed in the context of patient care with preceptor
supervision and psychiatric input. In the family medicine sites, 100% of the time is spent in the primary care
continuity setting. Students have a wide variety of affiliated institutions from which to choose.

The experience focuses on ambulatory/primary care issues in medicine, pediatrics and family medicine. Students
expand existing skills in medical interviewing, and physical diagnosis while developing additional skills in
differential diagnosis, health care maintenance, patient counseling and follow-up. During the clerkship, students
are responsible for assuming the role of "student" physician under the supervision of an attending preceptor.

There will be formal evaluation of the student's performance by attending preceptors based on observation of
patient encounters, record keeping, and presentations. Students are required to conduct a special project in
ambulatory or community health related to the Systems Based Practice competency. There is a standardized
patient (SP) experience and a Differential Diagnosis quiz that contributes to the overall grade. Students will be
required to evaluate the course and sites.

Students spend one morning per week back at the SUNY Downstate campus for didactics, which is considered to
be an integral part of Primary Care. Students also spend one session a week either in their clinical or computer
longitudinal experience.

Longitudinal Component: - 24 consecutive weeks of either computer modules or one continuity clinic session a
week. Completing this component is required for the clerkship and is graded P/F.
Expectations: Become an integral part (provider) in a primary care setting.
Sites: (Assigned by lottery.)

Brooklyn VA (Medicine)
Coney Island Hospital (Medicine)
Cumberland Family Health Center (Med-Peds)
Downstate/UHB (Peds)
East New York NFCC – (Peds)
Family Health Services at Lefferts (Family Medicine)
Kings County Hospital Center (Medicine )
LaSante Health Center (Medicine)
Maimonides Medical Center
Mount Sinai South Nassau (formerly South Nassau Community Hospital) (Family Medicine)
Private Physician Office (Prominis) Dr. Robinson (Family Medicine)
RUMC (Richmond University Medical Center) (Medicine)
St. Albans VA (Medicine)
University Hospital - Suite B (Family Medicine),
University Hospital - Suite R (Medicine)

Sites are assigned by a lottery conducted several months before the clerkship and are subject to change.
A site switch request will be considered only if a one-to-one swap is made with one of your classmates in the same
rotation as you. This request must be submitted to the department at least four weeks prior to the start of the clerkship.

CLERKSHIP INFORMATION ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021

ANESTHESIOLOGY
Course Director:          Dennis Dimaculangan, M.D.
Medical Student Coordinator: Karen King UH RM B3-329; (718 270-3765)
Clerkship Description:
This perioperative medicine rotation will allow the student clerk to participate in the medical care and delivery of sedation,
anesthesia and analgesia on patients undergoing surgical and non-surgical medical procedures. During the course of 2-
weeks, students will receive didactics on anesthetic pharmacology and physiology and their important considerations in the
management of patients’ co-morbidities during the perioperative period. Students will participate in the anesthesia
management of patients receiving monitored anesthesia care, regional anesthesia and general anesthesia. They will be
involved in the resuscitation and maintenance of patients whose respiratory, central nervous and cardiovascular systems are
electively depressed by anesthetics.
 Clinical Schedule:
 2-weeks clinical exposure in direct patient care under the supervision of anesthesia care team members.
 Didactic Schedule:
 1st Monday: Orientation lectures on: Introduction to anesthesiology, Operating room safety and quality improvement,
 Basic and advanced airway management with simulation on the mannequin, Airway assessment and induction of general
 anesthesia and Anesthetic considerations for the hypertensive patient.
 1st Thursday: Grand rounds / visiting professor lectures followed by a Lecture seminar on How to read and do medical
 research, Anesthesia for the patient with pulmonary disease, Regional anesthesia with simulation of neuraxial and
 peripheral nerve block procedures using skin surface landmarks, the nerve stimulator and ultrasound as nerve location and
 needle guidance techniques
 2nd Thursday: Grand rounds / visiting professor lectures
 Grading:
 Pass or Fail, based on the MS core competencies and from faculty and resident evaluations submitted thru New Innovations.
 There is no shelf exam but a take home physician impairment quiz and airway management and OR safety
 procedures/Universal check list quiz are included as part of the final grade.
 Expectations:
 Students are expected to receive, under direct supervision hands-on experience in pre-operative assessment and optimization
 of patients including focused airway examinations; intra-operative airway management (bag-mask ventilation, laryngeal
 mask airway placement and endotracheal intubation), IV access placement, resuscitation, physiologic monitoring, regional
 anesthesia techniques; and post-operative recovery care and acute pain management techniques. Students are expected to
 deliver an oral presentation of a case, discussing the anesthetic management including physical status assessment, airway
 management, pharmacology of anesthetics used, pathophysiology of co-morbidities that were present and their underlying
 anesthetic considerations. Students are not expected to participate in overnight calls or weekend duties.

Hospital Sites:

Kings County Hospital
Maimonides Medical Center
Northwell Health@Staten Island University Hospital
SUNY Downstate at Bay Ridge
UHB – Downstate
Brookdale Medical Center

Notes: Given the short rotation time, students should avoid scheduling the rotation at times when multiple days off are needed
for ANY reason. (i.e. weddings, conferences, holidays, interviews).
A site switch request will be considered only if a one-to-one swap is made with one of your classmates in the same
rotation as you. This request must be submitted to the department at least four weeks prior to the start of the clerkship.

CLERKSHIP INFORMATION ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021

PRIMARY CARE II - GERIATRIC AND PALLIATIVE CARE
Course Director: Paul Harris, M.D.
Medical Student Coordinator: Cheryl Ullah (718) 270-2257 E-012 Health Science Education Building

Clerkship Description: The curriculum ensures a foundation for competent compassionate care of older patients.
It is focused on acquiring proficiencies in the attitudes, knowledge and skills needed for elder care. The goals include:
 (a) An appreciation of the heterogeneity of the aging population in terms of values, ambition, capabilities and
      personalities.
 (b) An understanding of the importance of optimizing function for older patients, rather than an exclusively disease
      focused approach.
 (c) An empathy towards issues related to death and dying including the principles of palliative care.
 (d) A recognition of the essentially interdisciplinary nature of caring for the biopsychological needs
      of older patients.
       Proficiency in knowledge will encompass an overview of the basic science of normal and abnormal aging as well as
 the essentials of clinical geriatrics. Knowledge and experience will be gained of the common geriatric syndromes including
 altered mental status, iatrogenesis, mobility including falls, sensory deficits, failure to thrive, sleep disorders, pressure
 ulcers, incontinence and non-specific presentation of disease. Risk reduction and preventive care will be emphasized.
 Also, emphasis will be placed on health promotion and disorder prevention of importance to the elderly
 as well as the ethical, legal, humanistic and financial aspects of geriatric care including advanced directives, decision-
 making capacity and end-of-life care.
      The skills to be learned focus on geriatric assessment using standardized methods for assessing physical, cognitive,
 emotional and social functions as appropriate. These include screening for
 mental status, depression, functional status including mobility assessment, activities of daily living
 and instrumental activities of daily living.
      One day per week will be devoted to palliative care issues with lectures based on the EPEC Curriculum
 and hospice site visits. There is an on-line didactic pain module to be completed by all students.

Expectations: Students will have a hands on experience in the care of the elderly and ill participate as members of the
geriatric healthcare team. A case report with topic discussion is required for Honors.

Hospital Sites:
Brooklyn VA Harbor
McKinney
Flushing Hospital (Queens)
SUNY Downstate Geriatric-Psychiatry – Dr. Carl Cohen
Kingsbrook Jewish
Northwell Health@LIJ/NS
Parker Jewish Institute
Private Practitioner
Prominis( Dr.Roberto Robinson)
St. Albans VA Hospital
Notes: No exam. No night or weekend call. Clinical evaluations and case report.

A site switch request will be considered only if a one-to-one swap is made with one of your classmates in the same
rotation as you. This request must be submitted to the department at least four weeks prior to the start of the clerkship.